3588 replies to this topic

[Fabbrizio]

Ok, so just finished watching the first season. Overall impressions:

The Good:

• Fantastic animation.
• Pinkie Pie is the greatest thing ever.

The Bad:

• Stereotypical characters.
• Cliche plots.
• BASTARDISATION OF, AND DISRESPECT FOR, SCEPTICISM! >:{

Spoiler

Seriously, that episode with Pinkie and her twitches rubbed me the wrong way. The "moral" at the end was:

Twilight: I am happy to report that I now realize there are wonderful things in this world you just can't explain, but that doesn't neccesarilly make them any less true. It just means you have to choose to believe in them, and sometimes it takes a friend to show you the way.

No, Twilight. Just because YOU failed to explain it doesn't mean they can't be explained. Secondly, you observed the correlation yourself - you already verified that much was true, you just didn't have a theoretical model to explain the correlation. Thirdly, no you don't have to just "choose to believe" - Pinkie couldn't explain the phenomenon any better than you could!

Should we really be teaching our kids to be gullible?

All round, it was entertaining, but doesn't deserve the hype it's garnered. Besides Pinkie Pie and that memorable scene with Fluttershy in the last episode, there was nothing spectacular in terms of narrative.

You've got to understand two things:
1) The kid's show thing is all a facade here. Lauren Faust's intention was to create something that could be enjoyed by many different demographics, so the whole "moral of the story" at the end of each episode is just to keep Hasbro happy so they'll let the show keep running. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's so rare for an actual little kid to watch "Friendship is Magic" that when one does, ALL THE FANSITES POST IT AS NEWS.

2) Most people who watch it don't believe it's amazing right away. The thought process starts with thinking that its decent, then coming to the realization that what you're mildly enjoying is MY LITTLE PONY, and being surprised at that. Those two steps resonate with eacth other for a while, until you see FiM as this larger-than-life piece of awesomeness. Then you join the fanbase and start doing fanfics and fan art, and soon enough you start calling yourself a 'brony'. Not long after you start hearing derrogatory news reports that make all bronies sound like complete losers with no social life and no self esteem, and that makes you want to do something awesome as a My Little Pony fan, as a middle finger to the media. And before you know it, you've got brony pride.

[NoeL]

You've got to understand two things:
1) The kid's show thing is all a facade here. Lauren Faust's intention was to create something that could be enjoyed by many different demographics, so the whole "moral of the story" at the end of each episode is just to keep Hasbro happy so they'll let the show keep running. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's so rare for an actual little kid to watch "Friendship is Magic" that when one does, ALL THE FANSITES POST IT AS NEWS.

I don't see how that has anything to do with my complaints. It's still rather cliché and predictable, with shallow (albeit likable) characters. Can you honestly say there was a single episode (counting the first two episodes as one) where you didn't predict the ending within the first five minutes?

2) Most people who watch it don't believe it's amazing right away. The thought process starts with thinking that its decent, then coming to the realization that what you're mildly enjoying is MY LITTLE PONY, and being surprised at that. Those two steps resonate with eacth other for a while, until you see FiM as this larger-than-life piece of awesomeness. Then you join the fanbase and start doing fanfics and fan art, and soon enough you start calling yourself a 'brony'. Not long after you start hearing derrogatory news reports that make all bronies sound like complete losers with no social life and no self esteem, and that makes you want to do something awesome as a My Little Pony fan, as a middle finger to the media. And before you know it, you've got brony pride.

I don't run with the crowd on internet memes. I'm not a sheep. If I like something (like Portal, or Minecraft) I don't care that there's a bajillion fanboys that share my love. If I don't like something (like CoD, or the show Lost) I don't care that there's a bajillion fanboys that want to kill me. I only watched this show to see what the fuss was about, and while it was entertaining I don't think it was as good as Powerpuff Girls.

I don't really care that it's My Little Pony - I'm not so concerned about gender roles that I'm petrified of the thought of liking a show about ponies and rainbows and cupcakes. I can't remember the original show (I remember the toys though - my little sister had one) so I can't compare the two. The hyper-cuteness was a little hard to stomach at first (most things that try to be "cute" make me want to vomit), but before long I started seeing it as a design aesthetic as opposed to the primary selling point. The pony lingo is still a bit ugh though. I also found it weird how Equestria appears to have been built for humans rather than ponies, and how even the ponies themselves seem to be oblivious to this fact - even when they're fumbling around trying to hold a pencil in their mouth...

I'll never do fanfics or fanart (I don't do those anymore), nor will I ever call myself a "brony" (for one because I'm not a rabid fanatic, for two because I'm not a "bro", and for three because "brony" is a stupid term that represents the mindless fodder that build religions around this crap and is directly analogous to "Twihard").

[Fabbrizio]

Jeez, you're so negative. Seriously. I'm just trying to explain what goes on in the minds of most people, and you're attacking it without even considering that MAYBE not everyone has to be as contrary as you are.

As for your first point:

Spoiler

You can't honestly tell me you predicted Fluttershy freaking out at the end of episode 7. THAT is why Fluttershy is awesome.

All I can say is that you don't know cliche until you've watched the '80s MLP series. That makes FiM look like it has believable and realistic characters and the most unpredictable plot ever.

Edited by PowerGauntlets, 25 June 2011 - 07:14 AM.

[NoeL]

Jeez, you're so negative. Seriously. I'm just trying to explain what goes on in the minds of most people, and you're attacking it without even considering that MAYBE not everyone has to be as contrary as you are.

And I'm just trying to explain what goes on in MY mind

As for your first point:

Spoiler

You can't honestly tell me you predicted Fluttershy freaking out at the end of episode 7. THAT is why Fluttershy is awesome.

Spoiler

I predicted everyone's plans would fall apart and they'd end up hanging out like Spike wanted. I didn't predict the exact circumstances that would lead to the falling apart, but I knew SOMETHING like that was going to happen.

All I can say is that you don't know cliche until you've watched the '80s MLP series. That makes FiM look like it has believable and realistic characters and the most unpredictable plot ever.

That may be the case, but it doesn't change the fact

[Twilight Knight]

So what can expect from this show? I don't really like overly cute things, but if I understand you guys correctly, this is good enough to make up for that.

I might check it out later, but firstly I'm busy watching all Doctor Who episodes (which is about the most awesome thing I've seen so far). I'm not really scared of the fact that My Little Pony isn't considered cool by the average person.

As soon as I watched some, I'll tell of my experiences.

[ShadowTiger]

So they started making these...

[Fabbrizio]

Spoiler

I predicted everyone's plans would fall apart and they'd end up hanging out like Spike wanted. I didn't predict the exact circumstances that would lead to the falling apart, but I knew SOMETHING like that was going to happen.

No, not THAT episode.

Spoiler

Dragonshy, episode seven. The one where Fluttershy flips out and starts ranting at the dragon. You're thinking of episode 26, the one where they all they all go to the dance, which I thought was kind of a disappointing season finale despite everything epic and hilarious that happens in it.

[NoeL]

No, not THAT episode.

Spoiler

Dragonshy, episode seven. The one where Fluttershy flips out and starts ranting at the dragon. You're thinking of episode 26, the one where they all they all go to the dance, which I thought was kind of a disappointing season finale despite everything epic and hilarious that happens in it.

Oh, my mistake.

Spoiler

Same thing though. Again I'm not sure if I predicted the exact method, but it was obvious Fluttershy was going to be the one that saves the day with her motherly ways after everyone else tries and fails.

[Fabbrizio]

Oh, my mistake.

Spoiler

Same thing though. Again I'm not sure if I predicted the exact method, but it was obvious Fluttershy was going to be the one that saves the day with her motherly ways after everyone else tries and fails.

I wouldn't exactly call that moment "motherly". As for the point itself:

Spoiler

I guess that's where our opinions greatly differ. To me, something predictable can still be awesome if the presentation is unique. I kind of knew Fluttershy was going to be the SOLUTION, but I didn't even sort of suspect that she would become assertive, and that there would be a sort of Yami-Yugi locked in her subconscious.

Edited by PowerGauntlets, 26 June 2011 - 12:03 AM.

[Sir Evan]

It's easy to predict the plot "twists," yes, but that's only because the show is marketed towards young girls. You don't need a fancy, confusing plot when your targeted demographic will be just as surprised at Fluttershy flipping her s***. So, basically, congratulations NoeL, you guessed the ending to a show for 2nd graders.

Also, to Twilight_Knight, don't worry. Doctor Who makes plenty of cameo appearances in MLP as well.

...

[Mitchfork]

It's easy to predict the plot "twists," yes, but that's only because the show is marketed towards young girls. You don't need a fancy, confusing plot when your targeted demographic will be just as surprised at Fluttershy flipping her s***. So, basically, congratulations NoeL, you guessed the ending to a show for 2nd graders.

I think that was the point of his argument.

[Sir Evan]

I think that was the point of his argument.

I get that, but my point was that it's hard to knock something when your much, much older than who would be expected to watch the show. In other words, cliche plots = bad is an invalid argument.

...

oh god i just realized im defending the plot of my little pony on the internet somebody please shoot me

[Fabbrizio]

I get that, but my point was that it's hard to knock something when your much, much older than who would be expected to watch the show. In other words, cliche plots = bad is an invalid argument.

...

oh god i just realized im defending the plot of my little pony on the internet somebody please shoot me

To be fair, you're defending G4 MLP. About a page ago, I said that I enjoyed G1 MLP. Compared to me, you're in the clear.

[NoeL]

So, basically, congratulations NoeL, you guessed the ending to a show for 2nd graders.

Woot! What do I win?

I get that, but my point was that it's hard to knock something when your much, much older than who would be expected to watch the show. In other words, cliche plots = bad is an invalid argument.

Not at all. There's no reason why a show aimed at kids should have a clichéd plot, therefore it's a valid criticism

[Fabbrizio]

Not at all. There's no reason why a show aimed at kids should have a clichéd plot, therefore it's a valid criticism

Except for the fact that 1) the 'cliche'd plot" is presented in a unique manner, thus making it interesting, and 2) The fact that they use cliche'd plot is one of the many elements of the show that is intentionally unimpressive, so as to lampoon the old series, and to throw a middle finger at Hasbro for being so controlling in the design process.

Edited by PowerGauntlets, 26 June 2011 - 08:44 AM.